Haha... as it turned out, there were three fireworks displays on Anna Maria Island this July 4th weekend.
As we previously reported here on this forum and on our Anna Maria Island Life blog, there were two fireworks displays planned on Anna Maria Island for the July 4th weekend festivities.
Gladly not all parasailing adventures are as exciting as the one experienced by the following Chicago family while vacationing in Bradenton Beach on Anna Maria Island. Fortunately it had a happy ending and noone was hurt.
As reported in the Anna Maria Island Sun earlier this week, the Calacci family got more than the usual 15-minute parasail trip when high winds kept a father and son up in the air for more than three hours.
The wind speed at the nearest weather station at Sarasota International Airport was nine miles an hour at that time, but shortly after Mike Calacci and his son, Alex, were launched into the air, winds had whipped up and whitecaps were rolling in, with the weather station recording wind gusts up to 32 miles per hour.
The parachute hung in the same place for several hours with the boat apparently anchored, according to lifeguards. A second boat attempted a rescue by attaching a rope to the vertical line and pulling it down with the force of the boat’s forward motion.
Whether you are a local resident of Anna Maria Island or simply planning a vacation stay, the 'Free Anna Maria Island Trolley' is one of the best ways to get around.
Did I say "FREE"?
Yes I did, but it might not be FREE for long unless the proposed 'Save Our Trolley Campaign' is successful.
Unlike the rest of the country, the Anna Maria Island real estate market is HOT, HOT, HOT!
It's true, in many cities, towns and communities across America, realtors and real estate companies are going broke, closing down and just plain going out of business as a result of the down turn in the real estate market and the economy.
But on the island of Anna Maria Island, its a whole other story. You can still find real estate businesses and realtors in numbers that seem somewhat out of proportion to the size of the island and it's number of residence.
That is because the Anna Maria Island real estate market is out of proportion to the rest of the country. So much so, we actually have a new real estate company on the block... Anna Maria Island Beaches Real Estate.
Why would anyone be entering the real estate market during these volatile times we live?
Well, that's because although they are technically new kids on the block, the folks at Anna Maria Island Beaches Real Estate bring years of island living and experience in the local real estate market to the table... and you are going to be hearing a lot about them.
They do have a web site up, albeit still in development, and its located at www.AnnaMariaIslandBeachesRealEstate.com.
If you love Anna Maria Island life as much as we do and you've decided to move there, you will need somewhere to live. Do yourself a favor and call 'AMI Beaches Real Estate'. They have the combined experience and know how to help you find your dream home in paradise.
Planning a wedding next year?
If so, remember Anna Maria Island and February 28th, 2010.
That is when the next Anna Maria Island Wedding Festival is going to be held, and it promises to be even better than the previous two.
Anna Maria Island is the fastest growing and most popular wedding destination location in all of Florida, and on February 28th, 2010, from 11 am - 6 pm, over 40 local Anna Maria Island Wedding Merchants will host their third annual, strolling wedding festival.
This 'third annual', Anna Maria Island Wedding Festival is an Anna Maria Island wide, fun and informative day for anyone planning a wedding or thinking about getting married on beautiful Anna Maria Island.
Read about last years Wedding Festival on Anna Maria Island.
As if Anna Maria Island hasn't been getting enough attention in recent years, now German television audiences are going to have the opportunity to view 17 minutes of scenes from Anna Maria Island, Longboat Key and Bradenton on two different travel programs in September.
What do you think? How will this effect the residence of Anna Maria Island?
Let us know at German Travel Television Highlights Anna Maria Island and Longboat Key.
According to Jessica Grace, of the Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, a production crew dodged unseasonal rains last week while filming segments for two German television broadcasts... the '100% Vacation' and the 'Travel Advice' programs.
These popular travel related TV shows are scheduled to feature Anna Maria Island area beaches and hotels, Snooty the manatee at the South Florida Museum in Bradenton and Prime Outlets in Ellenton.
Do recent rises in neighboring area real estate values signal a turn around? Don't be so sure, say some.
Tell us what you think... are home prices on Anna Maria Island on the rise?
It was reported just yesterday in the Herald Tribune that, "Home prices in Sarasota-Bradenton rebounded 9.5 percent from March to April, pushing the market's median sales price up about $20,000 from a possible bottom earlier this year."
All this has little to do with places like Anna Maria Island or Longboat Key, or does it?
It's a pretty bold statement considering what is being reported about the housing market throughout the rest of the United States.
None the less, HT staff writer, Tom Bayles, published an article entitled, "Area Home Prices Buck U.S. Trend - Do recent rises in local real estate values signal a turn around? ", and as you might expect... it's created a bit of an uproar amongst it's readers.
It's being reported in the local press that the Island’s Fireworks Task Force is planning to enforce the local fireworks ban at all cost. First, "they plan to send out their July 4 message that fireworks are illegal and will be confiscated from both residents and visitors in a variety of ways."
"Message boards will be parked along roadsides, flyers will be distributed to rental agents and public service announcements will be aired on government television stations. In addition, the information is posted on Island city and county Web sites."
According to Sgt. Dave Turner, of the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office, the Sandbar plans to hire four off-duty officers to check for alcohol and fireworks’ violations. He said, "illegal fireworks would be confiscated and turned over to the bomb squad."
Let us know what you think about this years fireworks plans for the 4th of July weekend.
It's being report in news media that both supporters and opponents for the proposed "65 ft high fixed span bridge", as a replacement for the existing Anna Maria Bridge, are bracing for what could be yet another long drawn out debate before a final decision is made.
Supporters of a new fixed span bridge argue it will be safer and faster for travelers and better for island evacuations during hurricane season.
Meanwhile, a local resident group insists they want Anna Maria Island joined to the mainland by a drawbridge. The reason they say, "because it is more attractive and charming".
Some residence say its nice to do what can be done to maintain that old Florida charm that Anna Maria Island is so famous for, but not at the cost of safety.
Falling In Love With The Old Florida Charm Of Anna Maria Island.
"An amendment adopted by the Florida House Policy Council would allow for oil and natural gas exploration in Florida state waters 3 to 10 miles off shore."
It appears as though the answer to the question, "Will we one day see oil rigs from the beaches of Anna Maria Island?" is clear... PERHAPS!
It was recently reported in the Bradenton Herald that in an attempt to open new revenue streams for the state’s ailing budget, lawmakers voted 17 to 6 in favor of a bill that supports the oil and gas industry and opens Florida state waters to oil and gas exploration.
The House Policy Councel approved an amendment by Rep. Dean Cannon, R-Orlando, that would lift Florida’s ban on oil drilling in state waters and replace it with a plan to allow the governor and Florida Cabinet to seek bidders for exploration and drilling in the Gulf of Mexico between three and 10 miles offshore.
That could mean drilling platforms between three and ten miles of that Anna Maria Island coastline!
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